Friday Feature: Potential Specialty Crop – Florida Tea Production

Jun 28, 2022

By Doug Mayo

Researchers at the University of Florida’s Horticulture Department have been evaluating the possibility of tea production in Florida. This week’s featured video was published by UF/IFAS to share the highlights of the trails that have been conducted south of Gainesville, at the Plant Research and Education Center. As popular as specialty teas have become in the US, there may be potential for this alternative crop in the region. Tea is in the same plant family as camellias, so there is hope that suitable lines can be found for further testing. At this point, scientists are simply trying to identify cultivars that are adapted to this climate, but have also begun working on possible production practices.

Source : ufl.edu

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.